New Orleans Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Louisiana · SSA Region 06
Approval Rate
55.2%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9.5 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
275 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,737
awaiting hearing
ALJs
9
active judges
New Orleans ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis J Volz | 85% | 15% | 80% | 60 | 64 |
| Timothy Suing | 80% | 20% | 20% | 5 | 5 |
| Volz III. | 78% | 22% | 76% | 50 | 68 |
| Christopher H. Juge | 62.9% | 37.1% | 48.2% | 170 | 200 |
| Charlotte A Wright | 47.1% | 52.9% | 23.5% | 17 | 18 |
| Monica J Anderson | 46.1% | 53.9% | 31.3% | 425 | 525 |
| Jeffery Morgan | 44.8% | 55.2% | 28.1% | 388 | 460 |
| Jim Fraiser | 43.3% | 56.7% | 30.3% | 402 | 511 |
| John M. Dowling | N/A | 100% | N/A | 1 | 1 |
Former Judges at New Orleans
This judge has no recorded decisions at New Orleans in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.
| Judge | Last Decisions Reported | Approval Rate | Total Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas G Henderson | February 2024 | 37.7% | 130 |
Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.
About the New Orleans Social Security Hearing Office
New Orleans is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Louisiana. Operating within SSA Region 06, the office has 9 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 55.2%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 85%, a 85-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9.5 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 275 days. There are currently 1,737 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 193 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 37.5%. A fully favorable decision awards benefits from the claimant's requested onset date, while a partially favorable decision may set a later onset date. Both count toward the overall approval rate.
How to Interpret New Orleans Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at New Orleans, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 9.5 months and 275 days average processing time, claimants at New Orleans can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at New Orleans have collectively issued 1,518 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 169 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 1 to 425 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
New Orleans Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at New Orleans?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 0% to 85%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 37.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at New Orleans?
How long is the wait time at New Orleans?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is office data calculated?
What is the fully favorable rate at New Orleans?
How does New Orleans compare to other offices in the state?
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